Buckle



(No Model.)

G'. N. CLARK.

BUCKLE.

No. 604,912..l Patented May 31,1898.

UNITED STATI-is PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE NEWTON CLARK, OF DRY RIDGE, KENTUCKY.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,912, dated May 31, 1898.

Appnouon mea my 12,1897. 'serai No. 636,192. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE NEWTON CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dry Ridge, in the county of Grant and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Buckle, of which the following is a' engagement of the Wedge from the box, and.

to secure a neat and effective buckle which will be devoid of projecting parts and operate in a satisfactory manner.

The improvement consists, essentially,V of a box-frame adapted to have a strap secured to one end thereof and having its top outwardly and rearwardly inclined and its sides parallel, outwardly convergent, and longitudinally bulged, forming innerl longitudinal guideways adjacent to and parallel with the bottom of the box, the inner ends of the guideways being contracted and a wedge having a loop at its rear end and slidable within the box through its rear end and having lateral extensions operating in the aforesaid guideways and adapted to engage with the inner contracted ends of the guideways and prevent outward displacement of the wedge.

The invention also consists ofthe novel features and details of construction which hereinafter Will be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective v view of a buckle constructed in accordance with this invention, showing it as it Will appear when connecting the ends'of two straps. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the wedge or locking-slide. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the buckle-frame, parts of the box being broken away to show the contracted portion of the side guideways to engage with" the lateral projections of the wedge and prevent the disengagement thereof from the buckle.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The buckle-frame comprises a box l and an end extension 2,to which a strap 3 is secured in 'pany of the usual ways either by being riveted thereto `or passed through a loop and having its end portion folded and fastened. The box l'has its space tapering or contracted slightly at its outer end and is formed at its sides with guideways 4, in which operate vlateral extensions 5 of the Wedge or lockingslide 6.` The guideways are closed and conceal'the lateral extensions 5 and are formed by bulging the sides of the box, so that a minimum amount of material is employed in the construction of the buckle and the latter made as light as possible consistent with durability and efficiency of service. The inner ends of the guideways 4: are contracted, so as to engage with the lateral extensions 5 and prevent thekwedge or locking-slide 6 from being withdrawn from the box when moved to a position for looseningV the strap 7 or admitting of the said strap being placed in position within the box prior to being secured. v The wedge 6 its snugly within the box l, so as to prevent lateral movement, and is of la thickness to leave a space between its outer side and the outer wall of the box for the reception of the strap 7 ,.which latter is bound by a wedging action between the outer wall of the box 1 and the locking-slide 6 when the latter is forced within the box. The lateral extensions 5 are an integral part of the wedge and are located at its smaller end to admit of the wedge vbeing withdrawn from the box nearly its entire length. A loop 8 is formed at the outer end of the wedge to receive the loose end of the strap 7 after the latter has been secured. The lateral extensions 5 are at all times housed and protected by the guideways 4 and do not present projecting parts to engage with the horses mane or tail, parts `of the harness, or the hand and result in injury thereto,'and being concealed do not detract from the appearance of the buckle.

As clearly indicat-ed,the sides of the box are parallel and outwardly convergent, and its top inclines to the plane of the bottom out- Wardly and rearwardly. The guideways 4 are adjacent to the bottom of the box and IOO parallel therewith. The lateral extensions 5 j and guideways 4 are of such relative proportion as to admit of the wedge turning on the said extensions, which is necessary to admit of the strap 7 being properly positioned with reference to the wedge and box. The wedge cannot escape from the box by a forward movement, as the end portions of the loop 8 will engage with the inner or rear end of the sides of the box, and its inner or rearward movement is limited by the extensions 5 engaging with the contracted ends of the guideways 4. It will thus be seen that the wedge cannot be lost or accidentally misplaced and is at all times in position for service.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A buckle comprising a box having its bottom extended at one end for connection therewith of a strap, and having its sides parallel and outwardly convergent and longitudinally bulged, forming inner guideways adjacent to and parallel with the plane of the bottom, the inner ends of the guideways being contracted, and having its top outwardly and rearwardly inclined to the plane of the bottom, and a wedge of corresponding width to the box and slidable therein through its inner or rear end and having a loop at its inner or rear end and lateral extensions at its smaller or front end which operate in the aforesaid guideways and hold the wedge against the said bottom, and which limit the rearward movement of the wedge by engaging with the inner contracted ends of the guideways, substantially as and for the purpose speeiied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE NEWTON CLARK. lVitnesses:

CHARLES MORRIS, LUTHUR M. Gnoss. 

